The four basic types of retaining walls are:
- Gravity Retaining Walls – Work on their weight to counteract the pressure of the soil at their back.
- Cantilever Retaining Walls – Make use of both leverage and their structure to withstand soil pressure.
- Embedded Retaining Walls – Anchored into the ground to secure stability and block soil movement.
- Reinforced Soil Retaining Walls – Employ layers of reinforced material, such as steel mesh, to reinforce the wall and resist soil.